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picayune

The definition of picayune is trivial or unimportant.

(adjective)

A young child having a tantrum about a friend taking her red crayon when another red crayon is within reach is an example of a picayune complaint.

See picayune in Webster's New World College Dictionary

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noun

a coin of small value, as a former Spanish half-real of Louisiana
anything trivial

Origin: Fr picaillon, small coin, halfpenny < Prov picaioun < picaio, money, prob. < pica, to ring, jingle, strike < VL *piccare: see picador

adjective

trivial or petty; small or small-minded

also picayunish

See picayune in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Of little value or importance; paltry. See Synonyms at trivial.
Petty; mean.

noun

A Spanish-American half-real piece formerly used in parts of the southern United States.
A five-cent piece.
Something of very little value; a trifle: not worth a picayune.

Origin:

Origin: Louisiana French picaillon, small coin

Origin: , from French

Origin: , from Provençal picaioun

Origin: , from picaio, money

Origin: , perhaps from Old Provençal piquar, to jingle, clink

Origin: , from Vulgar Latin *piccāre, to pierce; see pique

Related Forms: